Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 1:37 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 1:37 p.m.

Three times as many cooking fires are reported on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System.

People dropping frozen turkeys into hot oil is a common source of fire, said Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Service EMS Chief Travis Parker.

“The cold, frozen turkey hits that hot grease and makes it boil over,” he said. “Once it boils over, it hits the flames underneath it and catches fire.”

He recommended that people fry turkeys in a driveway, away from cars. People should keep baking soda nearby in case they need to extinguish a flame.

“Don’t pour water on it by any means,” Parker said. “Water will react with grease and become a problem.”

Stove top fires can be extinguished with baking soda or by putting a lid over a pot, he said.

Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occur most frequently between 12 and 4 p.m., peaking from noon to 1 p.m.

People should clear their immediate cooking areas of aerosol cans, such as cooking spray, and flammable materials such as paper towels, dish clothes, pot holders and cookbooks, Parker said.

The American Red Cross recommends that people stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. The 3 feet around the stove should remain a kid- and pet-free zone.

Heating is the second-leading cause of fires that start on Thanksgiving Day, according to statistics. Parker said that firefighters are often dispatched to fires caused by space heaters.

“They’re called space heaters for a reason — because they need space,” he said. He said space heaters should be placed at least 3 feet from other furniture or walls and should never be placed near curtains or draperies. Fire can spread quickly from the floor to the ceiling on a curtain, which can spread to the attic and engulf the rest of the house in minutes.

Space heaters shouldn’t be left on while people are sleeping. Consumers should look for UL approved heaters, which have an automatic shut-off function in case the heater is overturned.